I'm happy for these kids
The other day, at the lunch hour, my friend, James Minor, and I walked from our office building across the company campus to the commons building for a bowl of soup and a slice of pizza. A group of kids from a local middle school were singing Christmas caroles and dancing for the entertainment of my coworkers.
It was a heart-warming, poignant display, which I enjoyed very much. The kids were enthusiastic, seemed pleased with themselves, and appeared to enjoy the approving attention directed at them from the spectators.
And, angst-ridden liberal that I am, I came away from it saddened. Those singing, dancing, smiling kids will likely never know hunger nor find themselves and their families trapped in a war zone, fearing for their lives. At least, I pray that they will not.
Well, dear reader, you undoubtedly know where I'm going with this...
Can we do something?
Since I became an adult, I've always found that children's books invoke this same sadness in me. So often, children's books are written to reassure, to calm fears. But, while I don't advocate that we frighten children, we all know the truth: the world is full of perils and horrors. No matter how much we might desire it, we cannot shield children from that truth.
If only it were not so.
I plan to enjoy the holidays. But I hope never to forget how flat-out lucky I am to have been born into such a blesséd existence.
That's my prayer for this year: Lord, help me to remember; help me to find a way to ease the suffering of the less fortunate.
I'm just a bleeding-heart liberal, after all.
Good ol' James
Update: Coworker James and I will make a trip to the Costco today to buy food for the seven needy families that my company is sponsoring this holiday season. It's a start!